Mills Reef

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Mills Reef 2000 Elspeth One Red (Hawke's Bay)

Cellar Selection

Price $35

This is a rich, sumptuous red wine. It looks, smells and tastes opulent. Ripe, forward berry flavors, wrapped in considerable oak, taste full and long, and the wine flatters with thick, velvety but fine tannins. The finish is a wonder, long and intricate. The aftertaste lasts for a full minute. It’s wonderful now, but should age effortlessly for many years. A blend… — S.H. (11/15/2002)

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Mills Reef 2000 Mere Road Elspeth Merlot (Hawke's Bay)

Editors' Choice

Price $30

Here you have a massively constituted wine joined to well-charred oak that results in an enormously rich, satisfying and, more importantly, balanced sip. The fruit and berry flavors are hugely extracted, the tannins gentle but complex, the acidity near perfect. It all adds up to a young bruiser. If you must drink it now, have with rich foods like well-marbled beef… — S.H. (11/15/2002)

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Mills Reef 2000 Mere Road Elspeth Syrah (Hawke's Bay)

Editors' Choice

Price $30

Strong and distinguished, this is a wine with the concentration of a winner. The dark purple and black color suggests the enormous extract, which is confirmed by the first sniff. The nose is packed with powerful black currant aromas, enhanced by fine smoky oak. In the mouth, it’s full-bodied, dense and immature. A chewy core of fruit and thick but fine tannins… — S.H. (11/15/2002)

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Mills Reef 2009 Elspeth Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot (Hawke's Bay)

On the herbal, tobacco-laden end of the Cabernet spectrum, but those elements are backed by ample cassis fruit and a lush mouthfeel. It’s long and velvety on the finish, making a winning final impression. Drink now–2020. — J.C. (8/1/2012)

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Mills Reef 1998 Elspeth Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot (Hawke's Bay)

Price $30

From Mere Road Vineyard, this blend of 72% Cabernet and 28% Merlot packs a lot of flavor into a broad, expansive wine that avoids the overt green character possessed by so many of its brethren. Rich, plummy fruit is graced by chocolate and smoke notes from French oak. — J.C. (10/1/2000)

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Mills Reef 1998 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (Hawke's Bay)

Best Buy

Price $13

This mouthfilling Sauvignon Blanc is a step away from the rest of the over-the-top grassy Sauvignons from New Zealand. It’s partially barrel fermented, yielding powerful fruit with a subtle touch of oak. Best Buy. — L.W. (8/1/1999)

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Mills Reef 2008 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (Hawke's Bay)

Best Buy
Online Exclusive

Price $15

This top-notch effort features bold nectarine and pink grapefruit flavors artfully accented by the merest hints of smoky complexity. It’s big and mouthfilling, finishing with just the right amount of nettle-y herbaceousness. Drink it over the next year or two. — J.C. (9/1/2010)

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Mills Reef 2010 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (Hawke's Bay)

Best Buy

Price $15

Mills Reef’s Reserve Sauvignon Blanc stays true to the Hawke’s Bay style, with ripe fruit notes that recall nectarine and passion fruit, medium body and a zesty finish reminiscent of fresh citrus. Drink it over the next year. — J.C. (9/1/2011)

Most Reviewed Designations

Elspeth Elspeth One Gimblett Gravels Reserve Mere Road Elspeth Mere Road Vineyard Reserve

Most Reviewed Varietals

Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot Chardonnay Merlot Merlot-Malbec Red Blend Sauvignon Blanc Syrah

2010 Mira Stanly Ranch

Winemaker Gustavo Gonzalez left Robert Mondavi to do his own thing, and…

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